images, phrases, and descriptions for everything — admirably sets it forth: —
| “I cannot too much muse, |
| Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing |
| (Although they want the use of tongue) a kind |
| Of excellent dumb discourse.”[1] |
Indians of most widely separated tribes can understand
each other and amuse each other, in perfect silence, without
a single word, — though with an occasional grunt, — in
giving long and minute relations and descriptions, and in
telling funny tales. They will impart the length of a journey,
on horse or foot; the number of days and nights;
describe the route, and countless particulars. A semicircular
motion of the hand from horizon to horizon marks a day;
the head reclined on the hand, a night; the finger pointed
to space in the sky on either side of the zenith, the hour in
the day; fingers astride and galloping signify riding, another
motion walking rapidly or slowly; the palm of the hand
passed smoothly down the face and body describes one of
the fair sex; one finger straightly pointed means a true
speech; two fingers forked means a snake-tongue, or a lie;
a fore-finger raised to the ear means, “I have heard,” or
“I approve;” the back of the hand on the ear, “I did not
hear,” or “I believe;” the hand laid flat on the lips and
then raised, means a prayer or an oath. And this
sign-language served as a basis or a guide for such symbolic
or hieroglyphic writing as the Indians had.
When General Custer was in retirement for a season at Fort Leavenworth, he made a study of the sign-language and became a great proficient in it, so as at times afterward to dispense with an interpreter. Professor J. W. Powell, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institute, has for several years been engaged on the most systematic attempt and method that have as yet been devised for the study of Indian languages, in their affinities and variances of
- ↑ Tempest, iii. 3.
